The Guiness Book reports that the most money anyone ever received for recording commercials was in 1988, when Pepsi Cola paid someone $12 million to do four TV commercials for them. Who was the recipient of this lucrative contract?

In the heat of the 1980s "Cola Wars," PepsiCo's strategy was to align its brand with the biggest names in pop culture, and in that era, no star was bigger than the King of Pop. At the absolute pinnacle of his global fame following the monumental success of his album "Bad," Michael Jackson was arguably the most famous and influential entertainer on the planet. His appeal crossed every demographic, making him the ultimate prize for a brand seeking worldwide recognition.

This partnership culminated in a landmark 1988 endorsement deal that shattered all previous records. The $12 million contract, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most lucrative of its time, was for a series of four commercials. These weren't just simple product placements; they formed a multi-part narrative called "The Chase," a high-energy mini-movie that showcased Jackson's iconic music and dance moves. The deal also included Pepsi's sponsorship of his sold-out "Bad" world tour.

The record-breaking contract was even more remarkable considering the duo's history. During the filming of an earlier Pepsi commercial in 1984, a pyrotechnics accident had gone horribly wrong, severely burning the singer. Despite that dangerous and widely publicized incident, the relationship between the superstar and the beverage giant endured, leading to this historic and massively profitable agreement a few years later.